Leader Of Religious Group, Aide Freed On Bond

March 13, 1986|By James H. Tolpin, Staff Writer

The leader of Pahokee`s Holy Way religious group - called a sex-obsessed cult by its critics - and his female assistant were freed on $10,000 bond Wednesday after facing charges they choreographed a nude fondling session involving girls and their mothers.

Clarence Eden Williams, 62, whom his followers call ``Brother Bill,`` also was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving the fondling of two 14- and 15-year-old girls who were sleeping at his home in the 900 block of East Main Street.

The teen-agers, according to affidavits filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court after the arrests Tuesday night, told state attorney`s investigators the fondling occurred ``during a ceremony referred to as cleansing.``

In September or December 1984, the affidavits also said, Williams called a Holy Way meeting at his home that turned into a fondling session participated in by 10 women and five of their daughters, ages 8 to 14, and a 12-year-old girl whose mother was not present.

At Williams` urging, Susan K. Levins, who was charged in the case, discussed her hang-ups about sex and stripped naked. Williams then told the women and girls to remove their blouses. They complied and fondled each other. Then they took off all their clothes.

``Williams spoke briefly to the mothers present about the cleansing that had taken place,`` the affidavit continued, attributing the description to one of the women at the meeting.

``Basically Susie Levins is the one who works most closely with (Williams) and the girls,`` said Mary Greene, coordinator of the state attorney`s division of crimes against children.

Deborah White, the attorney who represents Williams and Levins, said in a phone interview she doubted Levins, 36, was at the meeting described in the affidavit and that ``allegations and rumors`` about Williams had been circulating for years.

According to officials present at Wednesday`s bond hearing in Belle Glade, Assistant State Attorney Doug Fulton called the Holy Way a ``cult`` and Williams a ``menace.``

In setting bond, Circuit Judge Don Adams orderd Williams not to have contact with anyone under 18, and to stay at his home or his gun-repair business. Levins must stay at her home or at Williams`.